Dangerous flash flooding associated with Tropical Storm Debby underway in Berkeley County

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Berkeley County reactivated its Emergency Operations Center on Friday morning amid dangerous flash flooding across the community.

Heavy rainfall overnight mixed with already high water associated with Tropical Storm Debby, causing flooding conditions to worsen in Berkeley and Dorchester counties during the early morning hours.

Officials had declared a flash flood emergency in the Moncks Corner and surrounding areas due to rising and flowing water. Meteorologists said that six to 10 inches of rain had fallen since late Thursday night on top of the nine to 17 inches that fell as Debby impacted the area.

“Widespread dangerous flash flooding is ongoing across the city of Moncks Corner. High water rescues are in progress and a life-threatening situation is developing. Take action now,” officials advised Friday morning.

Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis said the agency brought in and deployed additional deputies to assist with the flooding. He said they conducted about 30 rescues overnight.

“Some folks were rescued from vehicles and others that were at homes and apartments who wanted to get out,” he said. “We deployed the swift water rescue teams along with deputies, Moncks Corner police, and firefighters and got those folks out.”

Hundreds of roads were closed between Berkeley and Dorchester counties because of flooding including Interstate 26 near the Volvo interchange in two locations.

Law enforcement warned people not to move or drive around barricades that were set up to protect people from driving into flooded roadways, or roads that were at risk of erosion due to moving water.

“We’ve got a number of roadways that are blocked,” said Sheriff Lewis. “Cane Bay subdivision has been inundated with water. We’re working with crews out there now, also I-26 at Volvo. We also have roads in the Lebanon community, Cordesville community – the Wadbu Bridge, I’m told, is still out- the water is over the road. We’re also looking at areas in the Macedonia and other areas around the county, We’re just trying to get a handle on everything.”

Sheriff Lewis said they were not trying to impede anyone’s travel but asked that sightseers not block traffic for emergency crews or put themselves in danger.

“We’re seeing a lot of folks that are riding around sightseeing and blocking the roads for emergency vehicles. So, I’m asking them to not do that, but we’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re expecting more rain this afternoon, so we’re trying to deploy our deputies in different areas where we know we’re going to have additional problems this afternoon.”

One of those roadways was Cooper Store Road where water was seen flowing across the roadway and into a wooded space and yards. Law enforcement had shut the road down as water began to rise; however, they warned that some drivers were moving or driving around barricades and urged people to stay off the road.

Water was seen rushing into Hidden Cove Marina on Friday morning, which has caused at least one boat to sink. The marina is located near the Cooper River not far from Lake Moultrie. Video showed overflowing water rapidly moving down into the marina from the parking lot and boat ramp.

“Fortunately, Hidden Cove Marina was designed and constructed with events like this in mind. Our infrastructure was built to withstand flooding, ensuring that the impact of such natural events is minimized,” said Maria Rakes in a statement to News 2. “Our dedicated team is already hard at work assessing and addressing the situation to ensure that everything is in top shape. We are confident that our marina will be ready to welcome you back very soon.”

Flooding was also a problem in the Cane Bay community. Water was seen spilling into the roadway on Cane Bay Boulevard around lunchtime outside of the Del Webb area, and flooding appeared to be worse further back into the neighborhood.

Residents who live in Del Webb told News 2 that they began to realize how much water was outside their door during the early morning hours. They said garbage cans were floating down the street.

Many residents around the county said the flooding seen after Tropical Storm Debby hasn’t been seen since the so-called “thousand-year flood” in October 2015.

Berkeley and Dorchester counties opened two shelters for residents seeking safe ground. One is open at Berkeley Middle School, and another was established at St. George Middle School.